(MONTGOMERY)—Representatives from the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Task Force (“Task Force”) recently joined Governor Robert Bentley in signing a proclamation declaring the week of April 6-12, 2014, to be Alabama Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has been recognized nationwide since 1981 to remember victims of crimes, those that serve them, and to call attention to the long term consequences of crime upon victims, their families and the community.

“We must use this week to not only remember crime victims and say thank you to those who help them and their families, but to remember our efforts help prevent crime and bring to justice those who commit crimes,” said Governor Bentley. “I personally thank all who work tirelessly to protect victims of crime.”

The Task Force is a multi-disciplinary group of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and victim service providers that offer shelter, legal representation, advocacy, counseling, and other services to domestic violence victims. For 20 years, the Task Force has been a united advocacy voice for domestic violence victims in Montgomery County. Recognizing that domestic violence is routinely unreported and victims may not seek services because of lack of knowledge about what exists to help them or fear of the abuser, the Task Force works to raise public awareness of what domestic violence looks like and what services are available in the area.The Task Force meets every month at One Place Family Justice Center.

“Domestic Violence is a crime that affects the family in a myriad of ways,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey. “Too many times a domestic situation becomes a vicious cycle of abuse, where a victim feels hopeless, lost and afraid to leave. Families are torn apart and children are exposed to violence. We must continue to do everything we can to help victims of domestic violence and stop the cycle of abuse.

Task Force members present at the Governor’s proclamation signing March 12, 2014, included the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the Maxwell Air Force Base Family Advocacy Program, the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission, Victims of Crime and Leniency, the Family Sunshine Center, One Place Family Justice Center, Child Protect, and Central Alabama Crime Stoppers.